dear coopes
sikhism is severly divided over eating meat.according to akal takhat the highest body of sikhs ,sikhs can eat meat if it is not halal.but as i earlier told
you there are many sects in sikhism which propagates that a sikh cannot eat meat.
btw if you ever visit india you will be surprised to know that sikhs are considered meat eaters and many famous non-veg restaurents are owned by
sikhs.my family too was highly religious and orthodox but eating meat was common thing in our home
The Diviison is recent...with the advent of the RADHA SOAMI BEAS Movement in the late 1940's. Before that there were very very few Daal Khannehs in Punjab Villages...
At the pain of repetion..i am putting a few more quotes from GURU NANAK JI Himself on EATING. Read on..
Eating or not, any kind of meat is a personal preference depending
on the taste etc and bringing the religion in-is fool hardy. Guru
Nanak Sahib Ji has explained it very well that only God knows what is good
and what is bad. Meat has been eaten in all the four ages and has
been referred in all religious books.
Water is the source of every thing in creation whether vegetation or
meat.
ਪਾਣੀ ਪਿਤਾ ਜਗਤ ਕਾ ਫਿਰਿ ਪਾਣੀ ਸਭੁ ਖਾਇ ॥
“Paanee Pitaa Jagat Kaa Fir Paanee Sabh Khaa-ay”
Water is the father of the world; in the end, water destroys it all.
----Guru Nanak
Dev, Raag Sarang, AGGS, Page, 1240-9
What food or clothes are good depends on the purity of heart as
explained by Guru Nanak in Raag Majh;
ਕਿਆ ਖਾਧੈ ਕਿਆ ਪੈਧੈ ਹੋਇ ॥ਜਾ ਮਨਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਸਚਾ ਸੋਇ ॥ਕਿਆ ਮੇਵਾ ਕਿਆ ਘਿਉ ਗੁੜੁ ਮਿਠਾ ਕਿਆ ਮੈਦਾ ਕਿਆ ਮਾਸੁ ॥
“Ki-aa KhaaDhai Ki-aa PaiDhai Ho-ay, Jaa Man Naahee Sachaa So-
ay,Kiaa Mayvaa Kiaa Gheo Gurh Mithaa Kiaa Maidaa Kiaa Maas”
What good is food, and what good are clothes, if the True Lord does
not abide within the mind? What good are fruits, what good is ghee,
sweet jaggery, what good is flour and what good is
meat? -----Guru Nanak, Vaar Raag Majh, AGGS,
Page 142-12
Look Carefully...MAAS - meat comes LAST...why not ban eating of Meveh fruits, ghee, butter, sugar, atta flour..FIRST before banning "meat" ?? Are we cleverer than Guru nanak ji..our FOUNDER and Satguru Himself ??
Sikh thought is more on the ethical side of the life rather than
physical (Maya/material) things. Food of any kind makes no
difference but it is the spiritual part of remembering God is
important for spiritual growth others are deluded. Guru Nanak
describes in Raag Majh;
ਇਕਿ ਮਾਸਹਾਰੀ ਇਕਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਣੁ ਖਾਹਿ ॥ਇਕਨਾ ਛਤੀਹ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਪਾਹਿ ॥ਇਕਿ ਮਿਟੀਆ ਮਹਿ ਮਿਟੀਆ ਖਾਹਿ ॥ਨਾਨਕ ਮੁਠੇ ਜਾਹਿ
ਨਾਹੀ ਮਨਿ ਸੋਇ ॥
“Ik Masaharee Ik TriN Khaaeh, Ikna Chateeh Amnrit Paaeh, Ik MiTee-aa
Meh MiTee-aa Khaaeh, Nanak Muthay Jaahi Naahee Man So-ay”
Some eat meat, while others eat grass. Some have all the thirty-six
varieties of delicacies, while others live in the dirt and eat mud.
O Nanak, those who do not enshrine the Lord within their minds is
deluded. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Majh, SGGS, Page, 144
Here is another Sloke of Mardana in Raag Bihaagrha stressing on the
spiritual side of life;
ਗੁਣ ਮੰਡੇ ਕਰਿ ਸੀਲੁ ਘਿਉ ਸਰਮੁ ਮਾਸੁ ਆਹਾਰੁ ॥ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਗੁੜੁ ਸਾਲਾਹ ਮੰਡੇ ਭਉ ਮਾਸੁ ਆਹਾਰੁ ॥ਨਾਨਕ ਇਹੁ ਭੋਜਨੁ ਸਚੁ ਹੈ
ਸਚੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਆਧਾਰੁ ॥
“GouN ManDay Kar Seel Gheo Saram Maas Aahaar, Giaan Gourh Salaah
ManDay Bhou Maas Aahaar, Nanak Ih Bhojan Sach Hai Sach Naam AaDhaar.
Make virtue your bread, good conduct the ghee, and modesty the meat
to eat. So make spiritual wisdom your molasses, the Praise of God
your bread, and the Fear of God the meat you eat. O Nanak, this is
the true food; let the True Name be your only
Support.
-----
Mardana, Raag Bihaagrha, SGGS, Page, 553-6
Kabir originally was follower of IDOLS ( Moortee Pujak) and follower of Ramanand and later
became monotheistic and believed in contemplation of Naam. He being
under the influence of Vedanta states about 3 things to refrain from
including fish;
ਕਬੀਰ ਭਾਂਗ ਮਾਛੁਲੀ ਸੁਰਾ ਪਾਨਿ ਜੋ ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਾਨੀ ਖਾਂਹਿ ॥ਤੀਰਥ ਬਰਤ ਨੇਮ ਕੀਏ ਤੇ ਸਭੈ ਰਸਾਤਲਿ ਜਾਂਹਿ ॥
“Kabir Bhaang Maachulee Sura Paan Jo Jo Praanee Khaaneh, Teerath
Barat Naym Keeay Tay Sabhay Rasaatal Jaaneh”
Kabir, those mortals who consume marijuana, fish and wine no matter
what pilgrimages, fasts and rituals they follow, they will all go to
hell.
----Bhagat Kabir
Slokes # 233, SGGS, Page, 1377-2 & 3
There has been references to the Hukamnama of Guru Har Gobind from
the book of Hukamnamas by Dr. Ganda Singh to the effect that the
Guru forbid the eating of meat but it has been annulled by the above
references even if the document is true. All the foot prints are
covered by the elephants foot print.
Guru Nanak Sahib Ji in Raag Malar describes in its entirety about meat ,
which he recited at Kurchetar at the festival of solar eclipse while
cooking the deer meat to remove doubts and superstitions about its
eating;
ਮਾਸਹੁ ਨਿੰਮੇ ਮਾਸਹੁ ਜੰਮੇ ਹਮ ਮਾਸੈ ਕੇ ਭਾਂਡੇ ॥ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਕਛੁ ਸੂਝੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਚਤੁਰੁ ਕਹਾਵੈ ਪਾਂਡੇ ॥
“Maasahu Nimmay Maasahu Janmay Ham Maasai Kay Bhaanday, Gi-aan Dhi-
aan Kachh Soojhai Naahee Chatur Kahaavai PaaNday”
In the flesh we are conceived and in the flesh we are born; we are
vessels of flesh. You know nothing of spiritual wisdom and
meditation, even though you call yourself clever, O religious
scholar.
ਮਾਸੁ ਪੁਰਾਣੀ ਮਾਸੁ ਕਤੇਬਂ-ੀ ਚਹੁ ਜੁਗਿ ਮਾਸੁ ਕਮਾਣਾ ॥ ਪਾਂਡੇ ਤੂ ਜਾਣੈ ਹੀ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਿਥਹੁ ਮਾਸੁ ਉਪੰਨਾ ॥ਤੋਇਅਹੁ ਅੰਨੁ ਕਮਾਦੁ
ਕਪਾਹਾਂ ਤੋਇਅਹੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣੁ ਗੰਨਾ ॥ਮਾਤ ਪਿਤਾ ਕੀ ਰਕਤੁ ਨਿਪੰਨੇ ਮਛੀ ਮਾਸੁ ਨ ਖਾਂਹੀ ॥ਇਸਤ੍ਰੀ ਪੁਰਖੈ ਜਾਂ ਨਿਸਿ ਮੇਲਾ �"ਥੈ ਮੰਧੁ
ਕਮਾਹੀ ॥
“Maas PuraaNee Maas Kataybeen Chaoh Jug Maas KamaaNaa, PaanDay Too
JaaNai Hee Naahee Kithoh Maas Upunnaa, To-i-ahu Ann Kamaad KapaahaaN
To-i-ahu Taribhavan Gannaa, Maat Pitaa Kee Rakat Nipannay Machhee
Maas Na KhaaNhee, Istaree Purkhai JaaN Nis Maylaa Othai ManDh
Kamaahee”
Meat is allowed in the Puraanas, meat is allowed in the Holy books.
Throughout the four ages, meat has been used. O Pundit, you do not
know where meat originated. Corn, sugar cane and cotton are produced
from water. The three worlds came from water. They are produced from
the blood of their mothers and fathers, but they do not eat fish or
meat. But when men and women meet in the night, they come together
in the flesh.
---Guru
Nanak, Raag Malaar, SGGS, Page, 1290
The complete Sabd translated;
First, the mortal is conceived in the flesh, and then he dwells in
the flesh. When he comes alive, his mouth takes flesh; his bones,
skin and body are flesh. He comes out of the womb of flesh, and
takes a mouthful of flesh at the breast. His mouth is flesh, his
tongue is flesh; his breath is in the flesh. He grows up and is
married, and brings his wife of flesh into his home. Flesh is
produced from flesh; all relatives are made of flesh. When the
mortal meets the True Guru, and realizes the Hukam of the Lord's
Command, then he comes to be reformed. Releasing himself, the mortal
does not find release; O, Nanak through empty words, one is ruined.
The fools argue about flesh and meat, but they know nothing about
meditation and spiritual wisdom. What is called meat, and what is
called green vegetables? What leads to sin? It was the habit of the
gods to kill the rhinoceros, and make a feast of the burnt offering.
Those who renounce meat, and hold their noses when sitting near it,
devour men at night. They practice hypocrisy, and make a show before
other people, but they do not understand anything about meditation
or spiritual wisdom. O Nanak, what can be said to the blind people?
They cannot answer, or even understand what is said. They alone are
blind, who act blindly. They have no eyes in their hearts. They are
produced from the blood of their mothers and fathers, but they do
not eat fish or meat. But when men and women meet in the night, they
come together in the flesh. In the flesh we are conceived, and in
the flesh we are born; we are vessels of flesh. You know nothing of
spiritual wisdom and meditation, even though you call yourself
clever, O religious scholar. O master, you believe that flesh on the
outside is bad, but the flesh of those in your own home is good.
All beings and creatures are flesh; the soul has taken up its home
in the flesh. They eat the uneatable; they reject and abandon what
they could eat. They have a teacher who is blind. In the flesh we
are conceived, and in the flesh we are born; we are vessels of
flesh. You know nothing of spiritual wisdom and meditation, even
though you call yourself clever, O religious scholar. Meat is
allowed in the Puraanas, meat is allowed in the Bible and the Koran.
Throughout the four ages, meat has been used. It is featured in
sacred feasts and marriage festivities; meat is used in them.
Women, men, kings and emperors originate from meat. If you see them
going to hell, then do not accept charitable gifts from them. The
giver goes to hell, while the receiver goes to heaven - look at this
injustice. You do not understand your own self, but you preach to
other people. O Pundit, you are very wise indeed. O Pundit, you do
not know where meat originated. Corn, sugar cane and cotton are
produced from water. The three worlds came from water. Water
says, "I am good in many ways." But water takes many forms.
Forsaking these delicacies, one becomes a true Sannyaasee, a
detached hermit. Nanak reflects and speaks.
Conclusions;
Every material thing develops from water whether meat or vegetable.
It is the remembering of the God which is important rather debating
unnecessarily of vegetables or meat. It should be individual
consideration to decide what is good or bad. IN SGGS
there is no prohibition in eating or cooking meat any where. Guru
Nanak Sahib Ji cooked deer meat at the festival of solar eclipse at Kurchetar
to remove the doubt and superstition. Why are we Once Again falling into the same PIT of Bharam and Superstition that Guru ji pulled us out of at Kurchetar . Vegetariansim is NOT GURMATT..it is PERSONAL CHOICE ONLY. PERIOD.
Gyani jarnail Singh
